Public warned about potential dangers of missing drain covers
Essex Highways working hard to ensure high priority repairs are made in difficult circumstances.
The cost-of-living crisis is having ‘knock-off’ effects in many ways, with one particularly worrying aspect being repeated thefts of drain covers across the country.
Essex has suffered hundreds of these since the start of the year, in some cases having covers taken in large numbers along entire streets, leaving Essex Highways with a huge task in making safe and scheduling repairs. The problem has been most acute in Basildon, Harlow and Uttlesford.
The high price of metal has led to thieves stealing the covers and selling them to scrap merchants.
A significant problem for Essex Highways is that unfortunately, the service can’t simply replace the cover itself, as each sits within its own frame.
In many cases, the frames are very old and finding a matching product is not possible.
Replacement gullies and frames are not easy to source, particularly given the well documented problems in national and global supply chains.
Having to replace both the cover and frame is time consuming and costly to the taxpayer –around £1,000 per lost cover/frame depending on location - and can be more where concrete roads are involved mainly due to excavation.
On top of this, Essex Highways’ teams have the difficult task of making judgements about which ones to address first, with more heavily trafficked routes often given priority.
Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said: “Removing drain covers from their rightful location creates potentially dangerous hazards for pedestrians, cyclists and other road-users and is an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer.
“When we are informed of a missing cover, we need to make it safe urgently either with tarmac or a cone signalling the hazard. These remain over the drain until a permanent fix can be organised.
“We can occasionally use plates, but they are generally used for footways as they can’t carry the weight of traffic. If they break, they could end up in the carriageway and become potential safety hazards. Using temporary yellow pedestrian plates also carries a potential safety risk as they can be easily dislodged by traffic.
“We urge the public to follow the guidance online at www.essexhighways.org/tell-us. Please also be vigilant and report any thefts to the Police should you see any take place.
“We understand the frustration caused by delays to repairs but please rest-assured that these situations are treated as high priorities and we will do everything possible to complete a permanent fix as quickly as possible. We also request that the public stay patient as in some instances appropriate replacements are hard to obtain at the moment.”